The heatwave continues with hot and sunny weather. Picture: Carolyn Jenkins/Alamy Live News

While most of the UK was decked with sunshine, the Met Office said it would be cloudier, cooler and windier in the far northwest, with rain over north and northwest Scotland.

Tonight temperatures will only cool off slightly - with up to 18C possible at 9pm and lows of around 9C by 11pm.

The warm, sunny weather has brought large numbers of people and traffic to the Essex seafront town. Picture: Avpics / Alamy Live News

The UK's warmest Easter temperature was the 29.4C recorded at Camden Square in London on Easter Saturday in 1949.

The other warmest Easter weekend days include the 26.9C recorded at London's St James's Park on Good Friday in 2011 - when the mercury also reached 25.3C on Easter Sunday and 24C on Easter Monday, both in the Solent.

No, this isn’t Bondi. Picture: Celia McMahon/Alamy Live News.

Mr Hall said in "stark contrast" to the dry and sunny conditions in the UK, Spain and the Mediterranean were experiencing showers and heavy downpours.

A stunning sunset in Kent at the end of a sunny and warm day. Picture James Bell/Alamy Live News

Brits lather up with sun cream on what could be the hottest day of the year so far. Credit: Carolyn Jenkins/Alamy Live News

He added: "Spain is very unsettled as we go into Easter Monday. There are temperatures of 17C to 16C in Barcelona. There are certainly cooler conditions there compared to the UK."

Meanwhile, emergency crews are tackling a large wildfire burning on the famous Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire.

A helicopter has been brought in to help fight the fire.

More than 70 firefighters are at the scene, just south of the town of Ilkley, and police have being deployed to keep people away from the area.

Looks comfy. Credit: Carolyn Jenkins/Alamy Live News

West Yorkshire Fire Service said on Sunday morning 12 crews were on the moor using water jets and beaters.

A spokesman said: "Specialist wildfire units are also in attendance and a helicopter will be assisting with overhead water attack."

Sergeant Terri Green, from West Yorkshire Police, said on Twitter: "Please stay away from Ilkley Moor today. Deploying many officers to cordon it off due to dangerous conditions due to the fire. Going to need plenty of water and sun cream today for my team and I."

The dry, sunny and very warm temperatures have brought high risk of wildfires in Yorkshire and northwest England and a moderate likelihood for Wales and southwest England, according to the Met Office.

This article originally appeared on The Sunand was reproduced with permission